Donald James Kilfin

PRO

Donald James Kilfin

5.0
48 reviews
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 25 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Saint Petersburg, FL
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Juvenile

400 Carillon Parkway, # 130, Saint Petersburg, FL

About Donald

Biography

Helping Good People Through Difficult Situations.

Arrested or think you might be? An experienced criminal defense attorney can help.

Attorney Donald J. Kilfin has handled countless DUI cases as a prosecutor and defense attorney.

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 40%

13 years

40%
DUI and DWI 40%

13 years

40%
Juvenile Law 20%

13 years

20%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2013 2012
Gold Client Champion
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 25 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 2000

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Licensed in Georgia for 13 years

State: Georgia

Acquired: 2012

Inactive Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Location

The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C.

400 Carillon Parkway, # 130, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33716

kilfinlaw.com/

Online Presence

Other places you can find Donald online.

Donald James Kilfin's Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (41) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 8 reviews | General Knowledge

Posted by Armstrong | February 22, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Litigation

Reclaimed my life within weeks

I ran into a situation in Pinellas county. Hired him the next day or so. Yeah, it cost some money. Very much worth it. He totally gave me a worry free representation. I didn't even show up for a single court date. He conveyed what needed to be conveyed to whomever it needed to be conveyed to understa...nd the dynamics of what was really going on in the case. And he won. Has the right legal foundation. Aggressive approach. Hard working. He has a complete network. Lot of years working with all of the different outfits that concern law in his area. Stop looking for any other attorney right now. You just hire this guy cuz I said so.

Posted by Lilien | April 08, 2019 | Hired Attorney

Want the best? Hire Donny Kilfin!

Donny is smart, kind, a great communicator and a fine attorney. He will fight hard for you and make sure you are in-line with the entire process from a to Z. If you want an attorney that will answer the phone/text when you reach out, he's the man to call. I feel he is more than fair in his pricing an...d went above and beyond for me. With the time he put in on my case, I don't think he made a dime after all was said and done. That is his character 100%. He loves what he does and he does it for the right reasons. Don't keep scrolling, this is the attorney you need.

Posted by anonymous | February 15, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Awesome Criminal Defense Attorney

I would whole-heartedly recommend attorney Donald Kilfin to anyone who happens to find themselves in need of a criminal defense attorney. Being a former prosecutor gives him a unique perspective of how strong or weak the prosecution’s case is. Mr. Kilfin is so detail-oriented that he reviewed witness... statements line-by-line for discrepancies and/or inconsistencies. Every piece of evidence was reviewed and analyzed to decide the best way to use it. He kept me informed step-by-step throughout the whole process. His hard work and research allowed him to know my case inside and out, and he was quick to point out inaccuracies and falsehoods in my ex-husband’s testimony. Mr. Kilfin looked and acted like a professional throughout the three day trial. His closing argument was everything a client could ask for: he covered every aspect that needed to be said, and he had the jury listening intently and even nodding agreement when he pointed out facts of the case that proved my innocence and resulted in a NOT guilty verdict due to self-defense. Watching Mr. Kilfin during the trial was amazing and anyone in need of help should definitely contact his office.

Posted by Barbara | March 19, 2015 | Criminal Defense

Awesome criminal attorney

Mr. Kilfin represented my son who was charged with multiple felony charges. He was looking at a substantial prison sentence. Mr. Kilfin was very through in his investigation of the charges. He was able to convince the PA to reduce and dismiss some of the charges. He exceeded our expectations. At... a personal level he kept me and my son informed of every action taken related to the case. Mr. Kilfin is everything you need in an attorney Professional, Knowledgeable, Committed and Caring.

Posted by Pamela | April 14, 2014 | Criminal Defense

A VERY professional and caring attorney

Mr. Kilfin represented my DIL who was facing a prison term of up to 8 years. Through his professional knowledge of criminal law and outstanding perseverance, he got the charges reduced to a very minimal sentence with a 6 month house arrest and 6 month in house rehabilitation program and NO PRISON TIM...E! We were kept in constant contact from Mr. Kilfin throughout this process with no time lasped in getting this case settled. He is diligent and highly respected in his position, which is a plus to have in such a compassionate and caring attorney. We are so very grateful that we had him to represent her as this was a very devastating time for everyone involved and he did a marvelous job and we thank him so much for everything he did. God forbid we should ever need an attorney again, you can bet we will call the best, Donald Kilfin!

See All Client Reviews

Donald James Kilfin's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Donald
Ali Ebrahimzadeh headshot
Ali Ebrahimzadeh

Unknown lawyer | Jan 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kevin Mark Schmitt headshot
Kevin Schmitt

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Kilfin is an excellent criminal defense attorney. Mr. Kilfin was an honest and hardworking prosecutor and he has carried his skills over into criminal defense. Mr. Kilfin has extensive legal knowledge and is very compassionate. I highly recommend Mr. Kilfin."

Scott Michael Engstrom headshot
Scott Engstrom

Unknown lawyer | Apr 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Kilfin is a skilled attorney based on my review of his profile. I endorse this lawyer."

Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington headshot
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael Patrick Loberg headshot
Michael Loberg

Criminal defense lawyer | May 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have know Mr. Kilfin for many years. We used to work together at the State Attorney's Office where we handled many cases together. I have continued to observe Mr. Kilfin's excellent lawyering skills since he switched to the defense side of things. Mr. Kilfin has always been a gifted attorney and is well respected in the legal community. He is highly dedicated to his clients and his work. I happily endorse this lawyer."

Timothy F. Sullivan headshot
Timothy Sullivan

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Kilfin is a highly skilled criminal trial lawyer with a stellar reputation in the legal community."

Blake Edward Marcus headshot
Blake Marcus

DUI and DWI lawyer | Jan 06

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

David Leon Carlson headshot
David Carlson

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Joseph Torri headshot
Joseph Torri

Unknown lawyer | Sep 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

John E. Dobogai III headshot
John Dobogai

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer for his long standing commitment to justice for those accused of crimes."

Glen Paul Burn headshot
Glen Burn

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Before he moved from Peachtree City, Georgia, I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Donald Kilfin for nearly a year. During that time, I came to think of him as one of the most caring, conscientious, and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers I have ever known and worked with. In fact, during the time he was here, he became my "go to" person whenever I was uncertain on a legal question, or needed advice on strategy or tactics. In short, I know that I can count on Donnie to give well considered and effective guidance on some of the most difficult issues I deal with. Even though he no longer practices in my state, I anticipate that I will still run things by him from time to time, and that his suggestions will continue to be invaluable to me in my practice. Donnie is a SUPERB criminal defense lawyer, and anyone fortunate enough to have him as their attorney will be well served."

Joshua Richmond Lippes headshot
Joshua Lippes

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Donald Kilfin is highly respected in the legal community. He is very knowledgeable about the law, and passionate about his clients. I strongly endorse this lawyer."

Gregory L. Olney II headshot
Gregory Olney

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. i have known donald kilfin for many years. as a skilled and highly regarded prosecutor, he represented all that one would hope for from the state attorney's office. he was approachable and fair, always giving careful consideration in plea negotiations. in trial, he really had no peer. extrememly ethical, he never took advantage and yet almost always prevailed. since donald became a criminal defense attorney, he has continued to be the best attorney in the room. he cares so much for his clients and works tirelessly to protect their interests. if i needed a criminal defense attorney to protect one of my children, i would hope to be able to obtain his services."

Nathaniel J. Wojan headshot
Nathaniel Wojan

Unknown lawyer | Jun 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Kilfin is a great attorney. I endorse this lawyer."

Jeremiah Justin Denslow headshot
Jeremiah Denslow

DUI and DWI lawyer | Jun 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Kilfin is an excellent advocate for his clients. I give him my strongest endorsement in the field of criminal and DUI/OVI defense."

Richard Todd Rosenstein headshot
Richard Rosenstein

Unknown lawyer | Jun 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Kilfin is a skilled and respected member of the legal community."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Donald. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Andrew Crawford headshot
Andrew Crawford

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I had the pleasure of working with and knowing Mr. Kilfin for many years while he practice in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mr. Kilfin was an extremely hardworking and ethical attorney and I would recommend him to anyone."

Mark Lenny Mohammed headshot
Mark Mohammed

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 01

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jim Lee Whitlock headshot
Jim Whitlock

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Although I have not known Donny very long, I know he has the background and attitude that I would be looking for if I needed a lawyer. He has a background in Prosecuting criminal cases, which gives you great insight in what the judge/or jury needs to hear. I know that he has great compassion for defendants who face charges, but are not guilty. I also know he has a great trial record. Although I have not known him a long time, I consider him a friend and l look forward to working some cases with him. Attorney Jim Whitlock, THE GODFATHER."

View All Endorsements
Thomas W. Cope headshot
Thomas Cope

Personal injury lawyer

Michael Patrick Loberg headshot
Michael Loberg

Criminal defense lawyer

Timothy F. Sullivan headshot
Timothy Sullivan

Criminal defense lawyer

Harvey Hesse III headshot
Harvey Hesse

Criminal defense lawyer

Joshua Richmond Lippes headshot
Joshua Lippes

Personal injury lawyer

Gregory L. Olney II headshot
Gregory Olney

Criminal defense lawyer

Nathaniel J. Wojan headshot
Nathaniel Wojan

Criminal defense lawyer

Jeremiah Justin Denslow headshot
Jeremiah Denslow

Criminal defense lawyer

Richard Todd Rosenstein headshot
Richard Rosenstein

Car accident lawyer

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer

Glen Paul Burn headshot
Glen Burn

Criminal defense lawyer

Roger David Futerman headshot
Roger Futerman

Criminal defense lawyer

Rudjard Melvin Hayes headshot
Rudjard Hayes

Criminal defense lawyer

Stacey Flynn headshot
Stacey Flynn

Criminal defense lawyer

Jim Lee Whitlock headshot
Jim Whitlock

Criminal defense lawyer

Christopher Haskins Westmoreland headshot
Christopher Westmoreland

Criminal defense lawyer

Robert David Eckard headshot
Robert Eckard

Criminal defense lawyer

Andrew James Tetreault headshot
Andrew Tetreault

Criminal defense lawyer

Rebecca Louise Hamilton headshot
Rebecca Hamilton

Criminal defense lawyer

Andrew Crawford headshot
Andrew Crawford

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2017

Member (Top 100 Florida DUI Attorney), National Advocacy for DUI Defense

2017

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2017

Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers

2016

Member (Top 100 Florida DUI attorney), National Advocacy for DUI Defense

2016

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers

2015

Member (Top 100 Florida DUI Attorney), National Advocacy for DUI Defense

2015

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers

2014

Client's Choice Award, Avvo

2014

Member (Top Florida DUI Attorney), National Advocacy for DUI Defense

2014

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2013

Top 10 Under 40 (Georgia), National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys

2013

Client's Choice Award, Avvo

2013

Superb rating, Avvo

2013

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers

2010

Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine

2000

Who's Who (published profile), Who's Who Among American Law Students

2000

The National Dean's List (published profile), The National Dean's List

Work Experience

2013 - Present

Owner, The Kilfin Law Firm, P.C.

2008 - 2013

Partner, Hessinger & Kilfin Law

2006 - 2008

Litigation Associate, Spector Gadon & Rosen, PC

2003 - 2006

Adjunct Instructor, St. Petersburg College

2000 - 2006

Prosecuting Attorney, Office Of The State Attorney

Associations

2014 - Present

Georgia Supreme Court

Member

2014 - Present

Georgia Court of Appeals

Member

2012 - Present

State Bar of Georgia

Member

2007 - Present

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Member

2000 - Present

Florida Bar

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

State v. M.C.

Not Guilty

State v. R.H.

Not Guilty

State v. J.H.

Not Guilty

State of Florida v. T.R.

Not guilty

State of Florida v. L.J.

Not guilty

State of Georgia v. B.N.

charge reduced to a misdemeanor with probationary sentence

See More Legal Cases

Education

2000

Stetson University College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1996

Trent University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2003

St. Petersburg College Police Academy

Substantive Criminal Law and Procedure/Constitutional Law

Publications

2016

2015

2015

HG.org Global Legal Resources Fleeing and Eluding Offenses in Florida

2015

HG.org Global Legal Resources Criminal Mischief Offenses in Florida

2015

HG.org Global Legal Resources DUI Offenses in the Tampa Bay Area

2014

HG.org Global Legal Resources Drug Offenses in the Tampa Bay Area

2014

HG.org Global Legal Resources Domestic Violence Offenses in the Tampa Bay Area

2014

2014

HG.org Global Legal Resources Trial by Jury in Florida

Languages

English

Activity

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution